Democrats Draft an 'Internet Bill of Rights' To Regulate Big Tech

An anonymous reader quotes a report from GeekWire: Democrats in the House of Representatives are promising to push for federal regulation of tech companies if they retake the House in November. Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has drafted an Internet Bill of Rights and shared it with influential tech journalist Kara Swisher. It includes liberties like the right to access and transport personal data collected about you, an opt-in framework for data collection, and net neutrality protections. Rep. Nancy Pelosi charged Khanna with drafting the principles, according to an essay by Swisher published in the New York Times.

The list includes the right to obtain, correct, or delete personal data 'where context appropriate and with a fair process.' That's not nearly as sweeping as the 'right to be forgotten' included in Europe's landmark General Data Protection Regulation, which took effect earlier this year. The Bill of Rights would also require companies that collect personal data to notify users of breaches in 'a timely manner' and mandate 'reasonable business practices and accountability to protect your privacy.' Swisher calls it 'an admirable list' but is concerned that codifying the principles 'will be like pushing back the ocean.' Many big tech companies have business models built entirely on collecting as much user data as possible.